Longer distance doesn't faze Johnson's Langan

Updated 11:04 pm, Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Johnson’s Natalie Langan enters Saturday’s UTSA Ricardo Romo Classic at the National Shooting Complex course after winning the Region IV-5A title there last year.

Johnson’s Natalie Langan enters Saturday’s UTSA Ricardo Romo Classic at the National Shooting Complex course after winning the Region IV-5A title there last year.

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

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Johnson’s Natalie Langan leads the pack during the Class 5A girls’ 1,600-meter run in the Region IV-5A track and field meet Saturday at Alamo Stadium. Langan broke a 28-year-old 5A meet record in the 3,200 a day earlier by more than seven seconds with a time of 10:41.51, and won the 1,600 with a time of 5:904.64.

Johnson’s Natalie Langan leads the pack during the Class 5A girls’ 1,600-meter run in the Region IV-5A track and field meet Saturday at Alamo Stadium. Langan broke a 28-year-old 5A meet record in the 3,200

Johnson junior Natalie Langan won the 3,200 in record-breaking fashion at the Region IV-5A meet.

Johnson junior Natalie Langan won the 3,200 in record-breaking fashion at the Region IV-5A meet.

Photo: MARVIN PFEIFFER, Prime Time Newspapers

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Johnson's Natalie Langan crosses the finish line in first place in the 5A girls 1600 meter run during the Region IV Track Meet on April 28, 2012 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio Texas. John Albright / Special to the Express-News.

Johnson's Natalie Langan crosses the finish line in first place in the 5A girls 1600 meter run during the Region IV Track Meet on April 28, 2012 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio Texas. John Albright / Special to

Johnson's Natalie Langan leads San Benito's Brenda Lopez and Holmes' Stephanie Barlow in the 5A girls 1600 meter run during the Region IV Track Meet on April 28, 2012 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio Texas. John Albright / Special to the Express-News.

Johnson's Natalie Langan leads San Benito's Brenda Lopez and Holmes' Stephanie Barlow in the 5A girls 1600 meter run during the Region IV Track Meet on April 28, 2012 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio Texas. John

Johnson's Natalie Langan (right) broke a 28-year-old meet record in the 3,200-meter run at Friday's Region IV-4A/5A meet with a time of 10:41.51.

Johnson's Natalie Langan (right) broke a 28-year-old meet record in the 3,200-meter run at Friday's Region IV-4A/5A meet with a time of 10:41.51.

Photo: John Albright, For The Express-News

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Johnson's Natalie Langan runs by herself after pulling away from the pack in the 5A girls 3200 meter run during the Region IV Track Meet on April 27, 2012 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio Texas. John Albright / Special to the Express-News.

Johnson's Natalie Langan runs by herself after pulling away from the pack in the 5A girls 3200 meter run during the Region IV Track Meet on April 27, 2012 at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio Texas. John Albright /

Johnson’s Cameron Williams races out of the exchange zone with the baton in the 4x200 meter relay at the North East Invitational. The Jaguars won the event with a time of 1:30.10. Johnson’s Natalie Langan competes in the 1,600-meter run in the North East Relays. She won the event with a time of 5:12.56, and also won the 3,200-meter run.

Johnson’s Cameron Williams races out of the exchange zone with the baton in the 4x200 meter relay at the North East Invitational. The Jaguars won the event with a time of 1:30.10. Johnson’s Natalie Langan

Natalie Langan of Johnson High School, right, and competitors are off at the start of the girls 3200 meter run during the finals of the District 26-5A track championships at Heroes Stadium on Thursday, April 12, 2012. Langan won the race. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News

Natalie Langan of Johnson High School, right, and competitors are off at the start of the girls 3200 meter run during the finals of the District 26-5A track championships at Heroes Stadium on Thursday, April

Johnson's Natalie Langan places first in the girls 5A race at the Region IV Cross Country Meet at National Shooting Complex on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Johnson's Natalie Langan places first in the girls 5A race at the Region IV Cross Country Meet at National Shooting Complex on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Photo: Kin Man Hui, ~

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Longer distance doesn't faze Johnson's Langan

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The last time Natalie Langan ran at the National Shooting Complex course, she won the Region IV-5A title in November.

When the Johnson senior returns for Saturday's UTSA Ricardo Romo Classic, she hopes to create a few more memories. However, this year things are different.

Instead of going two miles, female competitors are running three miles. For Langan, the longer distance hasn't slowed her progress as she has started the season by winning the Southwest and North East ISD meets.

Still, it's an adjustment.

“I like running the 5K better, but I'm still getting used to it,” Langan said. “I'm still trying to figure everything out. Hopefully, I will keep getting my times down.”

The Romo meet has often served as a preview of the Region IV meet. Several of the top runners are competing, including Holmes' Stephanie Barlow and Smithson Valley's Devin Clark and Anna Cozart.

Like Langan, all three advanced to the state meet last year, with Barlow in Class 5A and Clark and Cozart in 4A.

“It's a fun course,” said Langan, who also won regional titles in the 3,200- and 1,600-meter runs during track season. “It will be fun running against good competition. They always push me to do better.”

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Although Langan has emerged as one of the top distance runners in the area, she's constantly looking for ways to improve.

In addition to her daily work with Johnson coach Nancy Almaraz, Langan picked up useful tips during a cross country camp in Colorado this past summer.

“I knew this year was going to be different, so I spent a lot time in the summer working on my speed,” Langan said. “The camp was super fun. I met people from all over the country and learned different strategies. It was hard getting used to altitude, but it helped me.”

Langan has another reason to be encouraged about this season.

At this past week's North East meet, Johnson recorded a perfect team score (15) after claiming the top five spots.

Following Langan, who finished with a time of 18 minutes, 56.87 seconds, were Dara Niemi (19:39.71), Emily Bandy (19:40.96), Shelby McNeel (19:45.89) and Nia Stallings (20:05.09).

Langan hopes that team success is a preview of things to come.

“We all stay together,” Langan said. “We know we have to push each other. It was exciting to win like that. We hope we can do that at district and regional.”